Under the gaze of Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue, 78,000 packed packed into the iconic Maracana Stadium to watch four-hour party with Michael Phelps and other sporting superstars taking center stage in South America’s first Olympics as the Rio Games officially opened Saturday (Manila time).
This picture shows an overview of Samba dancers performing during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Antonin THUILLIER
Delegations parade during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS
Former Brazilian athlete Vanderlei Cordeiro lights the Olympic flame during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Jewel SAMAD
The Olympic Cauldron is lit during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANO
Torch bearer Vanderlei de Lima holds up the torch as he mounts the steps to the cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANO
Kirstie Alora carries the flag of the Philippines during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Spain’s flagbearer Rafael Nadal leads his delegation during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / PEDRO UGARTE
USA’s Michael Phelps (R) leads the USA delegation during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Juan Mabrom
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South Korea’s flag bearer Gu Bongil leads his national delegation during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE
Hong Kong’s flagbearer Au Stephanie leads her delegation during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / PEDRO UGARTE
Peru’s flagbearer Francisco Boza leads his delegation during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / PEDRO UGARTE
Russia’s Sergei Tetyukhin carries their country’s flag as they lead teammates into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANO
Italy’s Federica Pellegrini carries their country’s flag as they lead teammates into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANO
Jamaica’s flagbearer Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce leads her delegation during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / OLIVIER MORIN
Moldova’s Nicolai Ceban leads his national delegation during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE
Dominica’s delegation takes part in the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE
Cuba’s flag bearer Mijain Lopez Nunez leads his national delegation during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE
Japan’s flagbearer Keisuke Ushiro leads his delegation during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / PEDRO UGARTE
Brazil’s national delegation take part in the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE
Tunisia’s Oussama Mellouli leads his national delegation during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE
France’s delegation parade during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / OLIVIER MORIN
The Refugee Olympic team members take part in the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE